Recognition arrangement for disposable tableware

ABSTRACT

A recognition arrangement for disposable tableware includes a container body having a surrounding wall to define a cavity therewithin for containing a predetermined object and a user arrangement which includes a plurality of character portions, wherein the character portions are integrally and spacedly protruding out the surrounding wall of the container body for being selectively to indent each of the character portions, such that the user can recognize which disposable tableware belonged to him or her. The user arrangement can have symbols, numerals or alphabet which helps the user to recognize his or her disposable tableware, helps a user to recognize his or her disposable tableware such that wastage and health risks are reduced. The users can also easily recognize which disposable tableware belongs to him or her in a shorter period of time with less effort.

CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation-In-Part application of a non-provisional application having an application Ser. No. 11/724,898 and a filing date of Mar. 15, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a recognition arrangement, and more particularly to recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, comprising a tab body has a plurality of character portions, and a user reference arrangement that has means for removing at least one of the character portions of the tab body such that the user can recognize which disposable tableware belonged to him or her.

2. Description of Related Arts

It is rather common that party goers are provided with many disposable tableware including cups, plates, forks, spoons, disposable cans and bottles, and so forth for food and for drinks. The wide use of disposable objects is caused by the fact that many hosts find it convenience, do not have enough non-disposable objects for all the guests, afraid that the guests would break or lose those non-disposable objects, or simply do not want to wash up after the party.

Since disposable tableware are disposable, they have many merits such as eliminating the fuss of washing up, light in weight, cheap to purchase, as well as avoiding the non-disposable tableware being broken.

However, they do have one great disadvantage. Party goers tend not to be able to recognize, for example, the plate or cup is the one that he/she has been using since all of the plates or cups are the same, even for bottled or canned drinks which has labels and printing and so forth. Since those labels and printing on the cans are the same, people usually find it very difficult to recognize such items.

Health conscious people will then choose to grab a new plate or a new can of drink. This, however, would create unnecessary waste when people start using new tableware and new can or bottle of drinks ones upon non-recognition of their own plates or cup. For people who either does not know that his/her cup or plate has been mixed up with someone else's or simply does not care, they might contact someone else's germs very easily.

As a result, many party goers would turn to self-help, meaning that they would try to make some sort of markings on the cups, plates, bottles and cans that they are using, such as using a pen to write down some sort of initials, and when pens are not accessible, they would start biting the mouth of the cups, rip parts of the plates and labels on cans off and so forth in order to distinguish their plates and cups from others'.

Some might find that this works. However, others, especially when the party is a big one, such that there are many people and disposable objects, might not mark the disposable objects the same way as others, creating scenes where party goers would twist and turn the plates, cups and objects around to figure out whose cup or plates those are.

In view of the above drawbacks, disposable tableware including plates, bowls, cups, bottles, cans and so forth should be improved to help party goes to recognize their own tableware, and drinking devices, reduce wastage of such disposable objects, and minimize health risks.

SUMMARY OF TH PRESENT INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, comprising a tab body that has a base portion and a plurality of character portions, and a user reference arrangement having means for selectively removing at least one of the character portions of the tab body such that a predetermined array of the character portions of the tab body are remained on said disposable tableware for the user recognizing the disposable tableware belonged to.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, wherein the recognition arrangement helps users to remember which disposable utility body belongs to whom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, such that the users can have more fun, rather than wasting time on distinguishing disposable tableware and avoid confusion and confrontation when disposable tableware are mixed up.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, such that by avoiding the mixing up of disposable tableware, there will be less wastage when people decides to use new ones rather than taking the risks of using other people's disposable tableware.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, such that by avoiding the mixing up of disposable tableware, the chances of users mistakenly use someone else's disposable tableware will be reduced, such that the health of party goers can be better protected.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, so as to provide a synchronized manner for users to customize their disposable tableware, such that the distinguishing element is easily seen, allowing the users to spend no time in trying to figure out which marked disposable tableware belongs to whom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, wherein the tab body is provided for suspendedly hanging on the outer surface of the disposable tableware such that the tab body can be torn off, such that users can easily customize his or hers disposable tableware, so that he or she could remember which disposable tableware belonged to him or her.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, wherein a tear-off line is formed along the base portion of the tab body such that the tab body can be selectively torn off such that users can easily customize his or hers disposable tableware, so that he or she could remember which disposable tableware belonged to him or her.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, wherein the user reference arrangement is provided for a user to desirably scratch-to-remove the character portions for the user to remember which disposable tableware belonged to him or her.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, wherein each of the character portions contains a different symbol respectively, so as to increase the users' rate of remember which disposable tableware belonged to whom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, wherein the symbols can be numerals, alphabets or other easy to remember and distinguished symbols.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, wherein the tab body can be integrally formed with the disposable tableware, or can be attached firmly onto the disposable tableware, depending on the material of the disposable tableware.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, wherein the recognition arrangement can be applied to all tableware including plates, bowls, and cups.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, wherein the recognition arrangement can also be applied to cup holders, or coffee cup insulation sleeves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, wherein the recognition arrangement can also be applied to labels on disposable bottles for water or other drinks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware, wherein the recognition arrangement can also be applied to canned drinks, where tags are not easy to form thereon and which contains no labels.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a recognition arrangement for a disposable tableware, comprising:

a tab body adapted for providing on the disposable tableware, wherein the tab body has a base portion and a plurality of character portions which are integrally provided at the base portion and are aligned side-by-side; and

a user reference arrangement for a user of the disposable tableware self-recognizing thereof, wherein the user reference arrangement comprises means for selectively removing at least one of the character portions of the tab body such that a predetermined array of the character portions of the tab body are remained on the disposable tableware for the user recognizing the disposable tableware belong to.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the recognition arrangement according to the preferred embodiment of the present prevention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the recognition arrangement additionally formed on the disposable tableware according to the preferred embodiment of the present prevention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the recognition arrangement according to an alternative embodiment of the present prevention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the recognition arrangement according to another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the recognition arrangement according to yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates the recognition arrangement according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the recognition arrangement comprises a tab body 10 and a user reference arrangement 20.

The tab body 10 has a base portion 11 and a plurality character portions 12. The character portions 12 are integrally provided at the base portion 11 and are aligned side-by-side.

The user reference arrangement 20 is provided for a user of the disposable tableware self-recognizing thereof, wherein the user reference arrangement 20 has means 21 for selectively removing at least one of the character portions of the tab body such that a predetermined array of the character portions 12 of the tab body 10 are remained on the disposable tableware 5 for the user recognizing the disposable tableware belonged to.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base portion 11 of the tab body 10 is adapted for outwardly extending from the disposable tableware 5 at a position that the base portion 11 of the tab body 10 is suspendedly hung on the outer surface 51 of the disposable tableware 5, wherein the character portions 12 are alignedly printed on the tab body 10.

Disposable tableware 5 includes but not limited to bowls, plates, cups, bottles and cans. However, this embodiment of the present invention is especially applicable to tableware that can be manufactured with labels or tags hanging therefrom.

Each of the character portions 12 has a reasonable size for a user to easily hold on to and pull. They integrally extend from the base portion 11 of the tab body 10 and are aligned side-by-side.

Furthermore, the removing means 21 has a tear-off line 211 formed along the base portion 11 of the tab body 10 and a plurality of tearable slits 212 formed between two of the character portions 12, such that each of the character portions 12 of the tab body 10 is selectively torn off from the base portion 11 thereof to keep the predetermined array of character portions 12 of the tab body 10 for the user recognizing the disposable tableware 5 belonged to. The tear-off line 211 and the tearable slits 212 allows a user to easily tear off the desired tab body 10, leaving the predetermined array of the character portions 12 of the tab body 10 that is meaningful for the user, such that it is easy for the user to recognize which disposable tableware 5 belonged to him or her.

In order to facilitate the user to easily recognize his or her disposable tableware 5, each of the character portions 12 contains a different character respectively, wherein the character can be numerals, alphabets or other simple to remember symbols. The character allows the user to easily distinguish and recognize his or her disposable tableware. For example, when the character portions 12 contain alphabets, the user can leave a predetermined array of character that represents his or her name, initials, or word that is meaningful to him or her.

It is worth mentioning that the user reference arrangement 20 allows people to customize their own disposable tableware 5 at a uniform way, such that users can easily customize their own disposable tableware 5 and easily recognize it. It allows users to know exactly where to look at when trying to sort out which disposable tableware 5 belongs to whom. As a result, users will not be wasting time in searching for clues, as they do when conventional disposable tableware 5 are randomly marked by users.

By allowing users to customize their disposable tableware 5 leaving a recognizable predetermined array of characters, wastage can be minimized because more disposable tableware 5 can now be recognized and will not be thrown away simply because no one know who has used which one.

And the fact that users can easily recognize their own disposable tableware 5 and less likely to pick up someone else's tableware, users will less likely eat or drink out of somebody else's tableware, and will less likely to contact their germs by mistake.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tab body 10 is integrally formed with the disposable tableware 5. This is when the tab body 10 is made with the same material as the disposable tableware 5, and that the formation of an integral tab body 10 with the disposable tableware 5 is easy and feasible.

However, referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when the disposable tableware 5 and the tab body 10 are not made of the same material, such as, the disposable tableware 5 is made of polystyrene and the tab body 10 is made of paper, or when integral formation of tab body 10 with disposable tableware 5 is not feasible, the tab body base portion 11 of the tab body is firmly attached to the disposable tableware 5, such that the character portions 12 remain extending from the disposable tableware 5 for the user to tear of the desired character portions 12.

And, similar to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user reference arrangement 20 has removing means 21 which has a tear-off line 211 formed along the base portion 11 of the tab body 10 and a plurality of tearable slits 212 formed between two of the character portions 12, such that each of the character portions 12 of the tab body 10 is selectively torn off from the base portion 11 thereof to keep the predetermined array of character portions 12 of the tab body 10 for the user recognizing the disposable tableware 5 belonged to.

Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The recognition arrangement is not directly formed or attached on the disposable tableware. Instead, it is formed on a holding portion 5′ of the disposable tableware.

This is particularly useful when the disposable tableware is a cup for containing hot liquids, such that a cup holder or an insulation sleeve is required to prevent the tableware from burning the hand of the user.

If the recognition arrangement remains on the cup itself, the cup holder or the insulation sleeve will cover up the recognition arrangement. As a result, the user will not be able to conveniently look for the recognition arrangement.

By adapting the recognition arrangement on to the holding portion 5, users are allowed to pull out the desired character portions 12 and read the character portions 12 without having to pull the holding portion 5.

Analogous to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tab body 10 is adapted for providing on a holding portion outer surface 51 of the holding portion 5 of the disposable tableware, wherein the tab body 10 has a base portion 111 and a plurality of character portions 12 which are integrally provided at the base portion and are aligned side-by-side.

The user reference arrangement 10 is provided for a user of the disposable tableware and the holding portion 5 to self-recognize the disposable tableware, wherein the user reference arrangement 20 has removing means 21 which has a tear-off line 211 formed along the base portion 11 of the tab body 10 and a plurality of tearable slits 212 formed between two of the character portions 12, such that each of the character portions 12 of the tab body 10 is selectively torn off from the base portion 11 thereof to keep the predetermined array of character portions 12 of the tab body 10 for the user recognizing the disposable tableware 5 belonged to.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The recognition arrangement is also not directly formed or attached on the disposable tableware. Instead, it is formed on a label 5 of the disposable tableware.

This is particularly useful when the disposable tableware is a liquid bottle, which contains liquid products, whether it is for water, juice or other drinks. The label 5 usually is a label containing information such as the manufacturing company of the liquid, and may include information such as nutritional value and contents of the liquid.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, the tab body 10′ and the user reference arrangement 20 is actually a part of the label 5, wherein the above mentioned information is printed onto the base portion 11 of the tab body 10′ and the character portions 12 extends from the base portions 11 of the tab body 10.

And preferably, the label 5 contains two character portions 12, wherein each is formed on an upper portion 52 and a lower portion 53 of the label 5. Furthermore, one of the character portions 12 contains letters while the other character portions 12 contain alphabets.

And, similar to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user reference arrangement 20 has removing means 21 which has a tear-off line 211 formed along the base portion 11 of the tab body 10 and a plurality of tearable slits 212 formed between two of the character portions 12, such that each of the character portions 12 of the tab body 10 is selectively torn off from the base portion 11 thereof to keep the predetermined array of character portions 12 of the tab body 10 for the user recognizing the disposable tableware belonged to.

Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawings, yet another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The tab body 10 is adapted for integrally coating on an outer surface 51 of the disposable tableware 5, wherein the character portions 12 are alignedly printed on the tab body.

The removing means 21 of the user reference arrangement 20 has a scratch-to-remove element 211 integrally coated on each of the character portions 12 of the tab body 10 for allowing the user to selectively remove the character portions 12 of the tab body 10 in a scratching manner.

This scratch-to-remove element 211 allows the recognition arrangement for disposable tableware to be applied on canned drinks, where an extending tab would be difficult and inconvenient to manufacture. The scratch-to-remove element 211 allows a user to easily choose which element 211 to remove, so as to leave behind a meaningful array of character portions 12.

Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, still a recognition arrangement for disposable tableware of another preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the recognition arrangement for disposable tableware comprises a container body 10′ having a surrounding wall 11′ to define a cavity 12′ therewithin for containing a predetermined objects, and a user arrangement 20′ comprising a plurality of character portions 21′ integrally and spacedly protruded out the surrounding wall 11′ of the container body 10′.

The disposable tableware of the above preferred embodiment is embodied as a bottle, such as a water bottle having a lid rotatably coupling with the container body 10′ at a position of a top opening of the container body 10′, wherein the character portions 21′ protruding outwardly of the surrounding wall 11′ of the container body 10′ is provided for being pressed to indent on the surrounding wall 11′, such that the character portions are deformed without damaging the disposable tableware, so as to recognize the disposable tableware belong to by a user of the disposable tableware. It is worth mentioning that each of the character portions 21′ is permanently deformed on the surrounding wall 11′ after the character portion 21′ is pressed by the user.

The user arrangement 20′ of the disposable tableware can be applied on and incorporated with a disposable cup or disposable plate of the disposable tableware, so that the user can recognize the disposable tableware belong to, so as to minimize the wastage of the disposable tableware. For incorporating with the pressing ability of the character portion 21′, the disposable tableware can be made the deformable material such as plastic, paper, and thin metal.

It is worth pointing out the character portions 21′ are preferably provided at a non-holding portion of the surrounding wall 11′ of the container body 10′, so that the user is still able to recognize the disposable tableware belong to by the character portions 21′ while the user of the disposable tableware is holding a holding portion of the surrounding wall 11′ of the container body 10′. In addition, the character portions 21′ are provided at the non-holding portion of the surrounding wall 11′ of the container body 10′ for preventing the character portions 21′ being accidentally pressed when the container body 10′ is held by the user.

In order to provide the character portions 21′ of the disposable tableware at the non-holding portion, the character portions 21′ are embodied at a peripheral edge of the surrounding wall 11′, and more specifically at an upper peripheral edge 111′ of the surrounding wall 11′ and at a lower peripheral edge 112′ of the surrounding wall 11′.

The character portions 21′ of the user arrangement 20′ further has a plurality of characters 22′ on each of the character portions 21′, so that the user is able to recognize the disposable tableware belong to whom by inwardly and selectively pressing the characters 22′ on the character portions 21′, so as to arrange the character portions 21′ for the recognition of the disposable tableware belong to.

The characters 22′ are alphabets 221′, numbers 222′, or symbols 223′ indented or printed on each of the character portions 21′ of the user arrangement 20′. The characters 22′ of the character portions 21′ may be all one of the alphabets 221′, numbers 222′, and symbols 223′, or the combinations of the alphabets 221′, numbers 222′, and/or symbols 223′ to create a predetermined array of the characters 22′ by selectively pressing the character portions 21′ of the user arrangement 20′, so as to increase the combination of array of the character portions 21′ to create more predetermined array.

The container body 10′ of the disposable tableware is preferably made by plastic material, so that the character portions 21′ is integrally protruding out from the surrounding wall 11′ of the container body 10′ by injection molding. The container body 10′ of the disposable tableware can also be made by paper material.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

1. A recognition arrangement for a disposable tableware, comprising: a container body having a surrounding wall to define a cavity therewithin; and a user arrangement for a user of said disposable tableware self-recognizing thereof, wherein said arrangement comprises a plurality of character portions spacedly and integrally protruding out of said surrounding wall, wherein each of said character portions is selectively pressed to indent on said surrounding wall of said container body, in such a manner that said character portions are selectively deformed without damaging said tableware to form a predetermined array of said character portions and remain on said disposable tableware for said user recognizing said disposable tableware belong to.
 2. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said character portions has a character thereon respectively, wherein said character is provided for said user to easily remember said disposable tableware.
 3. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said character portions is permanently deformed on said surrounding wall after said character portion is pressed.
 4. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said character portions is permanently deformed on said surrounding wall after said character portion is pressed.
 5. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 1, wherein said character portions are provided at a position of non-holding portion of said surrounding wall for preventing said character portions being accidentally pressed when said container body is held.
 6. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 2, wherein said character portions are provided at a position of non-holding portion of said surrounding wall for preventing said character portions being accidentally pressed when said container body is held.
 7. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 4, wherein said character portions are provided at a position of non-holding portion of said surrounding wall for preventing said character portions being accidentally pressed when said container body is held.
 8. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 1, wherein said character portions are provided at an upper peripheral edge of said surrounding wall.
 9. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 4, wherein said character portions are provided at an upper peripheral edge of said surrounding wall.
 10. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 7, wherein said character portions are provided at an upper peripheral edge of said surrounding wall.
 11. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 1, wherein said character portions are provided at a lower peripheral edge of said surrounding wall.
 12. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 4, wherein said character portions are provided at a lower peripheral edge of said surrounding wall.
 13. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 7, wherein said character portions are provided at a lower peripheral edge of said surrounding wall.
 14. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 10, wherein said characters on said character portions are alphabets.
 15. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 13, wherein said characters on said character portions are alphabets.
 16. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 10, wherein said characters on said character portions are numbers.
 17. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 13, wherein said characters on said character portions are numbers.
 18. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 10, wherein said characters on said character portions are symbols.
 19. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 13, wherein said characters on said character portions are symbols.
 20. The recognition arrangement, as recited in claim 1, wherein said disposable tableware is made the material selected from the group consisting of plastic, paper, and thin metal. 